![]() “As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Peter was on a boat when Jesus called out to him and invited him to follow. Peter and his brother Andrew were likely the first disciples Jesus called to follow Him. Peter was a strong and passionate man before he met Jesus and no doubt, he was deeply committed to Jesus and sharing the Gospel after he was called by Jesus. We see a wise man who somehow navigated life as a disciple and a married man with responsibilities. Peter had to learn to balance following Jesus with continuing to care for his family. Peter’s family experienced firsthand a miraculous healing when Jesus made Peter’s mother-in-law well. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him” ( Matthew 8:14). “When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. We also learn from Scripture that Peter had a mother-in-law, which means he was married. Fishermen were tough and had to have a rough demeanor. As a fisherman, Peter would have needed to be strong and fearless when it came to being on ferocious seas. Peter was a fisherman and therefore, he spent a good amount of time on a boat catching fish to make a living for himself and his family. We know that Peter’s original name was Simon, but later Jesus renamed him to Peter, which means “rock” (see John 1:42). “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew” ( Matthew 4:18). From the Gospel accounts, Peter and his brother Andrew were the first disciples Jesus called to follow Him. In the order of the New Testament books as they appear in the Bible, we first meet Peter in Matthew’s Gospel. Through Scripture, we can learn some important things about who Peter was and the life he lived. Peter was not a perfect person, but he is someone that Christians today can look to for guidance on having hearts devoted to Jesus. After Jesus’ ascension, Peter lived boldly for Christ and preached the Gospel unashamedly, putting himself in harm’s way to fulfill the Great Commission (see Matthew 28:16-20). Truly, Peter was grateful for his new life in Jesus and gave thanks for the eternal life he inherited as a follower of Christ. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” ( 1 Peter 1:3-4).
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